Arrests made in dawn drugs swoop

Nine people were arrested today and cash, ammunition and drugs seized in dawn raids across Sandwell.

More than 100 police officers raided 13 homes in Smethwick, Bearwood, Tividale and on the outskirts of Edgbaston.

The major operation was aimed at cracking a drug dealing network worth around £750,000 a year in Sandwell.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Beard, who led today's operation, said a drug cartel was operating in Smethwick using two mobile phones that were receiving up to 4,000 calls a month about drug deals.

DCI Beard said one of the phones was seized today, along with heroin, cash, firearms ammunition and four cars.

He said: "It's been very successful. We have nine people in police custody.

"It's very early days but we have seized four cars believed to be used in crime, a substantial amount of cash, some controlled drugs, and some ammunition from one premises.

"We have been getting intelligence for 12 months for this operation and we feel that with the Crown Prosecution Service we will bring these offenders to justice pretty quickly."

Police believe today's operation removed 50 per cent of the gang's drug dealers from the streets.

DCI Beard said seven more houses were due to be targeted after the raids in streets including Claremont Road, Waterloo Road and Park Hill Road in Smethwick and Wilson Road in Bearwood.

Officers from Wolverhampton, Walsall Birmingham and Coventry were drafted in to help with the operation.